Take Back Your Day With Effective Sinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis Treatments

Acute sinusitis, often just called sinusitis or a sinus infection, occurs when the mucus inside the sinuses does not drain properly, causing the sinus cavities and canals to become congested, swollen, and inflamed.

Sinusitis Causes

Sinus infections typically last 7-10 days and can be caused by a number of issues:

• Common cold or other viral infections
• Bacterial or fungal infections
• Allergies
• Altitude changes
• Air pollution

Sinusitis Symptoms

Symptoms of sinusitis include:

• Pain under the eyes and beside the nose
• Pain above the eyes toward the middle of the forehead
• Facial tenderness, swelling, or pressure
• Postnasal drip
• Thick, discolored mucus (usually green or yellow)
• Nasal congestion

Additional Side Effects

• Pain in the ear canal
• Headaches
• Pain in the teeth or gums
• Decreased ability to smell
• Cough
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Fever

Chronic sinusitis is similar to acute sinusitis in its causes and symptoms. The only difference is that a chronic sinus infection can last 12 weeks or longer.

In normal cases of sinusitis, inflammation, swelling, pressure, and pain tend to fade after a week or so without treatment. However, chronic sinusitis lingers for weeks at a time, making day-to-day activities or responsibilities extremely difficult to achieve.

Chronic Sinusitis Causes

Chronic infections can last 12 weeks or more and can be caused by a number of issues:

• Common cold or other viral infections
• Bacterial or fungal infections
• Allergies
• Altitude changes
• Air pollution
• Structural abnormalities (deviated septum, nasal polyps, etc.)
• Medical conditions (cystic fibrosis and certain immune system deficiencies)
• Weak immune system

Chronic Sinusitis Symptoms

Symptoms of sinusitis include:

• Pain under the eyes and beside the nose
• Pain above the eyes toward the middle of the forehead
• Facial tenderness, swelling, or pressure
• Postnasal drip
• Thick, discolored mucus (usually green or yellow)
• Nasal congestion

Additional Side Effects

• Pain in the ear canal
• Headaches
• Pain in the teeth or gums
• Decreased ability to smell
• Cough
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Fever

Sometimes mistaken for chronic sinusitis, recurrent sinusitis occurs when a patient experiences acute sinus infections four or more times in one year.

Certain patients are more susceptible to contracting a sinus infection than others, meaning they are more likely to experience multiple bouts of sinusitis with periods of no symptoms in between each infection.

Recurrent Sinusitis Causes

Recurrent sinus infections typically last 7-10 days per infection and can be caused by a number of issues:

• Common cold or other viral infections
• Bacterial or fungal infections
• Allergies
• Altitude changes
• Air pollution
• Structural abnormalities (deviated septum, nasal polyps, etc.)
• Medical conditions (cystic fibrosis and certain immune system deficiencies)
• Weak immune system

Recurrent Sinusitis Symptoms

Symptoms of recurrent sinusitis include:

• Pain under the eyes and beside the nose
• Pain above the eyes toward the middle of the forehead
• Facial tenderness, swelling, or pressure
• Postnasal drip
• Thick, discolored mucus (usually green or yellow)
• Nasal congestion

Additional Side Effects

• Pain in the ear canal
• Headaches
• Pain in the teeth or gums
• Decreased ability to smell
• Cough
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Fever